Lipid storage in cultured articular chondrocytes due to prostanoid precursors and a prostanoid synthesis inhibitor.
Lapine articular chondrocytes were subcultured in the presence or absence of the prostanoid precursors, arachidonic acid or dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, and the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. Lipid storage was studied microscopically using the Sudan black staining method. Control chondrocyte cultures showed a weakly positive staining reaction until confluence was reached, at which point the intra-cytoplasmic lipid content decreased. Both arachidonic acid and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid at 100 mumol/l caused a marked increase in lipid storage which continued even after confluence was achieved. 1 mumol/l concentrations were indistinguishable from controls, whereas 10 mumol/l concentrations elicited a slight increase in lipid storage compared with controls. The prostaglandin cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin did not affect chondrocyte lipid storage. However, administration of a prostanoid precursor in the presence of indomethacin caused a massive increase in intra-cytoplasmic storage of lipid, eventually leading to cell death. A possible explanation is that indomethacin may alter chondrocyte lipid metabolism in the presence of substrate molecules by rechanneling lipid synthesis away from the prostaglandin pathway to other lipid synthetic pathways.
D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D011817:Rabbits
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid; D007213:Indomethacin